Identify Your Bucket Tooth

Unsure what bucket teeth you've got on your digger? Use this handy guide to find out.

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There are several ways to determine your bucket tooth fitment style and size. We only stock bucket teeth for 3-ton diggers and larger. Before we start, there is one obvious place to look for a part number.

The part number of a bucket tooth is typically cast into the interior wall or rear edge of the tooth pocket. If you can't locate it or make it out, then follow our guide below.

1. Side pin or top pin

SIDE PIN

&#;&#;There are many side pin bucket tooth fitment styles. By far the most popular is the Cat J-Series. We also stock Komatsu bucket teeth.

Here's how to tell which is which.

CAT J-SERIES

Cat J-Series pins run horizontally through the tooth and adapter.

J-series has a pin and separate retainer. The pins have a recessed groove at one end to seat the retainer that is inserted into the adapter.

J-Series adapters have a recessed area on one side of the nose that retainer is inserted into.

View our Cat J-Series bucket tooth selection here

KOMATSU

Komatsu bucket teeth have an integrated centre-ring pin and retainer that looks like this.

Komatsu adapters can be distinguished from Cat J-Series because they have no recessed area for a retainer on the nose.

View our Komatsu bucket tooth selection here

TOP PIN

ESCO CONICAL 

ESCO Conical bucket teeth have a vertical pin system. The hole is on the top and is rectangular shape with a square top and rounded bottom.

The pins and rubber retainers look like this:

The top end of the tooth tends to have a rounded shape that fits into a concave counterspace on the adapter.

View our ESCO Conical bucket tooth selection here.

Want more information on Komatsu Excavator Teeth? Feel free to contact us.

2. Machine size

Once you have identified the fitment style the next step is to confirm the fitment size. The quickest way to narrow down where to look is to use the machine size. The correct size adapters should be fitted to a bucket that is designed for a specific machine size. Correct advice isn't always followed but it is a good start to help identify your fitment size.

Here is a handy chart that matches the correct machine tonnage with fitment sizes:

ESCO Conical

200 (205)

200 (205)

600 (109)

3. Pin and retainer size

Measuring your pins and retainers is the most accurate way to determine your fitment size because they are manufactured to more exacting measurements than cast teeth.

Now that you know what fitment size matches your machine tonnage you can view the product listings for the pin and retainer in that size. For example simply search "J250 pin" in the search box at the top of the website.

Each product listing has a table of measurements that reference a diagram in the product image gallery.

Check that the measurements of your pin/retainer closely match those listed to confirm your fitment size. If the measurements differ then check the measurements of pin/retainers for the fitment sizes above and below this to see if you find a better match.

4. Tooth pocket size

If you're still unsure, or you want to double-check your result, you can measure the interior pocket opening of your worn/other teeth. The pocket is the area that the adapter nose fits into. The interior pocket is subject to minimal wear during the life of a bucket tooth. This makes it a good location to compare measurements.

Measure the height and width of the top/rear opening of the pocket and compare with the table of measurements on a product listing on the website. If you find a close match then you're looking at the right product. 

5. Success!

If you feel confident that you've identified your tooth then you can add the products to your cart and place your order. 

If you're not confident that you've identified the correct part get in touch and we can help.

DISCLAIMER

Real Steel is not responsible for customers who use this guide and order the wrong teeth. We offer a 90-day returns policy if you make an incorrect purchase.

6. Find your part 

Click here to go to Bucket Teeth on the Real Steel Store.

Select the Real Steel Store logo below to return to the home page.

When should I use a Blade VS Teeth on my Excavator Digging Bucket?

Discover the evolution of excavator digging buckets &#; they've come a long way from simple toothed buckets! The market now offers a diverse range of bucket edge options, each designed for specific situations. Dive into the world of excavation and find out when to opt for a bucket with teeth versus a bolt-on blade. Uncover the reasons why toothless buckets are becoming a necessity on construction sites.

When should you use digging buckets with teeth?

A digging bucket fitted with teeth is probably the most common type of excavator bucket on the market. If you've ever seen an excavator, there's a large chance it would have been fitted with a toothed digging bucket, but why are they so popular and when are they best used? Digging buckets fitted with teeth are ideal for digging through and breaking up compact materials like soil and sedimentary rock. The small, serrated teeth although you to maximise your machines power by putting all the power of the machine through the small end points and into the ground. The toothed digging bucket will usually be your best option for digging projects like trenches, flower beds and driveways.

Although the toothed bucket is mainly used to break up material, it is also the best choice for bulk moving material and removing objects that might be stuck in the ground, like roots or large rocks, as the teeth help with scooping and gripping the material. If an object is stuck firmly in the ground, we would recommend using a Frost Ripper Tooth first. The ripper tooth digger attachment concentrates the power of your excavator into one end-point allowing you to focus the force into one area rather than across a wide area like with a digging bucket.

When should you use digging buckets with a blade or no teeth?

There are a few key scenarios when you shouldn't, or would prefer not to, use a digging bucket with teeth. One of the most common uses for using toothless digging buckets is when you want to dig a trench with a flat bottom. Using a digging bucket with a flat edge is the quickest and easiest way to get a flat finish to your trench. The flat edge of your lip plate or bolt-on blade will leave your trench with no teeth marks or digging lines as the smooth blade edge will level out the material as you pull the bucket through the ground. Flat bottom trenches are ideal for easily and safely laying pipes or cables in the ground.

Digging buckets without teeth are becoming compulsory across many construction and utility sites, especially when digging around utilities to reduce the risk of striking cables or other utilities that are already in the ground. When this requirement occurs we would recommend fitting a bolt-on blade option instead. Blade options like bolt-on blades or uni-tusk blades will slow the speed of wear to your bucket edge. Using a bucket with no edge option fitted will cause the lip plate of your excavator bucket to wear back and will eventually cause the welds that connect the side plates and shell to the lip plate to split, leaving your bucket useless. This is why we would also recommend fitting a blade to your digging bucket if using a bucket with teeth isn't an option. As well as protecting your bucket edge, fitting a blade also adds strength and rigidity to your bucket while digging, helping to extend the life of your excavator bucket even further.

So, there you have it, the main differences between using a digging bucket with teeth verse with a blade, and why toothless buckets are becoming more widely seen on construction and utility sites. If you want to know more about bolt-on blades and how to slow the wear on your buckets, check out some of our other content below. For more information or for help with placing an order, give us a call and we'll be happy to help. Click here to shop online now.

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